Minister says technical assistance for small producers is a priority in 2020

The Brazilian Congress of Agricultural Managers begins this Tuesday (5), in Brasília. In a speech at the opening of the event, Minister Tereza Cristina (Agriculture, Livestock and Supply) informed that technical assistance will be prioritized next year. "Technical assistance will be my biggest challenge as head of the Ministry of Agriculture," she said.

"We cannot have commercial agriculture that is in the world, it is 4G, soon 5G. And we still have the poverty of small producers, those who produce little, a producer who still needs help. You are extremely important in the municipalities so that we help, guide us in public policy for this agriculture", he added. 

The minister highlighted that, in the first months of her tenure at the Ministry, she dedicated herself to opening markets for Brazilian agriculture. On this topic, Tereza Cristina highlighted the need for attention and investment in health systems for agriculture to continue advancing. 

"We need the health law to be practiced and for the laws to be adapted to this new world, to this new market that is opening up to Brazil", he stated, citing that municipal consortia are good alternatives for implementing efficient systems with less cost.

The president of the Brazilian Micro and Small Business Support Service (Sebrae), Carlos Melles, said that any measure goes through managers, which is why Congress is important. "Everything goes through management and, that's why this Congress is so important for all of us. Sebrae has excellence in management, we provide technical and rural assistance and we are thinking about the Brazil of the future, which will require a lot of work."

According to the president of the Brazilian Agriculture and Livestock Confederation, João Martins, the agricultural sector is the most dynamic in the national economy. "NOur rural production feeds and sustains the Brazilian trade balance. And Brazil has the capacity to benefit 1 million producers with public policies and state actions."

The president of the National Confederation of Municipalities (CNM), Glademir Aroldi, highlighted that the agendas of agribusiness and municipalities are similar. “We have a reformist National Congress and government, we are going through a very important moment", said the president of the CNM, when mentioning the Social Security and Tax reforms. 

The president of the Parliamentary Front for Agriculture, federal deputy Alceu Moreira (MDB-RS), defended the adoption of measures to reduce the cost of credit to rural producers and also debt. "Agriculture is doing well, but farmers are not. Most of them are in debt and having difficulty, because they don't put a price on the product."

Also participating in the opening of the event were the president of the Central Bank, Roberto Campos Neto, and the Minister of the Environment, Ricardo Salles; the governor of Roraima, Antônio Denarium; and the vice president of agribusiness at Banco do Brasil, Ivandré Montiel.

For the Ministry of Agriculture, the secretaries José Guilherme Leal (Agricultural Defense) were present; Fernando Schwanke (Family Agriculture and Cooperatives); Jorge Seif Júnior (Fisheries and Aquaculture) and Fernando Camargo (Innovation, Rural Development and Irrigation).

Congress

The Congress of Managers aims to debate the challenges of the sector and the development of policies for the development and innovation of Brazilian agriculture. It is also an opportunity to exchange experiences and bring public and private initiatives closer together. The event will bring together managers, agriculture secretaries, rural producers and experts from across the country until November 7th.

The program includes debates on the most diverse aspects of agriculture, such as financing, family farming, innovation and technology, sustainability, access to markets, adding value. There will be four simultaneous programming rooms throughout the day. 

The congress is promoted by the Ministry, the National Confederation of Municipalities (CNM) and the Brazilian Agriculture and Livestock Confederation (CNA), with the support of the Brazilian Micro and Small Business Support Service (Sebrae), the National Learning Service Rural (Senar), the Organization of Brazilian Cooperatives (OCB), the Brazilian Association of State Entities for Technical Assistance and Rural Extension (Asbraer) and the Organization of Brazilian World Heritage Cities (OCBPM).

Check the conference schedule at website.